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Sellafield exodus begins Add comments

THE exodus of nuclear workers away from Sellafield is about to begin – but first of all into Allerdale.

More than 200 staff will be moving into the Cattle Movement Centre at Workington – and a start will be made next month.

They will share part of the building with staff of the Rural Payments Protection Agency.

It is part of Sellafield’s plans to cut down drastically on the number of cars travelling to and from the nuclear site.

There could be a reduction of a few thousand over the next few years.

Nine hundred are due to re-locate to the planned Albion Square office complex in Whitehaven.

Sellafield Ltd said yesterday: “We are in the advance stages of moving up to 220 office staff to the Rural Payments Protection Agency building in Workington, which will begin at the end of April. Longer term we plan to occupy the Albion Square office development in Whitehaven, which the NDA, Copeland council and Britain’s Energy Coast are currently pursuing.

“We are committed to working with local stakeholders to help reduce congestion on the roads of West Cumbria and actively pursuing a number of different work streams which will have a positive impact in the number of vehicles accessing the site.

“We are currently undertaking our annual review of the single vehicle occupancy tokens.”

Some staff hold tokens because of special working needs but by reducing the numbers it is hoped to encourage more car sharing.

As the Cattle Movement Centre is government owned (Defra), Sellafield Ltd will not have to pay rent but will cover the cost of essential services over a three year term.

Copeland Council leader Elaine Woodburn said the council were in discussions with Sellafield Ltd about the borough getting maximum benefit from Sellafield’s staff re-locations.

Meanwhile a decision is awaited on whether the ‘Sellafield Express’ will run again.

The special train service from Carlisle to the site carried on average 75 workers during its six-week trial.

Have your say

Moan, moan; get real! Dave; three quarters of the Sellafield workforce lives north of the site. Anon; 200 extra commuters into Workington isn't exactly likely to cause gridlock. Jar Jar; how exactly is moving workers off the site going to make it harder to get there? Darth; er ... last time I looked, Albion Square was in the town centre. But the moaners think the workers there won't spend any money! (see previous reports)

Posted by crisby on
5 April 2012 at 12:39

Ha- good luck getting into and out of Workington and Whitehaven at rushhour when the move happens.